Manchester United are reportedly ready to admit defeat in their bid to keep hold of Marouane Fellaini at Old Trafford beyond the summer.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Marouane Fellaini’s stint at Old Trafford is set to come to an end in the summer, with Manchester United bracing themselves for defeat in bid to retain his services. The Belgian midfielder is out of contract with the club at the end of the season, when he wants to move away from England.
Fellaini’s time at Manchester United has truly been a mixed bag. The start to life at Old Trafford was nothing short of a nightmare as he was made to be the scapegoat of David Moyes’ ill-fated tenure with the Red Devils. But, the player has since, turned his fortunes around, especially under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.
Fellaini has, in fact, been a key player for the current Manchester United boss, while also completing a turnaround of image in the minds of the fans. Since Mourinho’s arrival, the player has featured 63 times for the Premier League heavyweights, although his participation has been restricted this season due to a long-term knee injury.
More than the injury though, the major concerns for Manchester United surrounding Fellaini has been his contract situation. The Belgian’s current deal with the club will expire at the end of the season, and there have been no developments over a renewal, even though Mourinho has insisted that all parties are keen to reach an agreement.
But, certain reports have suggested that Fellaini has snubbed the Red Devils’ advances, and is prepared to depart from Old Trafford as a free agent. In fact, the Belgian international is reportedly eager to move away from the Premier League in search of a new challenge in the summer.
And the report entails that Manchester United are now prepared to admit defeat in their bid to retain the services of Fellaini, who is free to talk to potential suitors as he has entered the final six months of his contract. The club is now identifying possible replacement options as well, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic among their targets.
As far as Fellaini is concerned, his Manchester United stint is set to end soon, with a move away from Old Trafford destined to happen. Clubs from Italy, Spain and Turkey are interested in snapping him up in the summer, as per the report, and it remains to be seen where his journey takes him next.